Steel 1211
AISI/SAE 1211 · UNS G12110
1211 is a low-carbon resulfurized and rephosphorized free-machining steel (SAE/AISI 1211, UNS G12110) in which sulfur and phosphorus additions give the best machinability among plain low-carbon bar grades.
Reference datasheet — 1211 is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the CD condition
1211 tempers and conditions
1211 is supplied in 4 conditions, soft to hard. CD is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 4 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hot rolled | Lowest-cost form for larger sections that will be fully machined; softer, more ductile, poorer tolerance and finish than cold drawn. | 230 | 380 | 25 | 121 HB | — |
Annealed | Choose when maximum ductility for secondary heading/bending or stress relief after heavy cold work is needed. | 250 | 395 | 28 | 116 HB | — |
Cold drawn, stress relieved | Pick when long slender turned parts must stay straight — low-temperature stress relief cuts machining distortion with small strength loss. | 430 | 515 | 13 | 156 HB | 10.8 % IACS |
CDDefault Cold drawn | Standard stock condition for automatic-screw-machine work: highest strength, best size tolerance and surface finish. | 470 | 540 | 10 | 163 HB | — |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways 1211 is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
TGP | TG&P | Surface finish |
What is 1211?
1211 is a low-carbon resulfurized and rephosphorized free-machining steel (SAE/AISI 1211, UNS G12110) in which sulfur and phosphorus additions give the best machinability among plain low-carbon bar grades. It is chosen for high-output screw-machine work and is supplied cold-drawn, hot-rolled, annealed, stress-relieved and TGP. Cold-drawn bar is about 470 MPa yield, 540 MPa tensile, 10 % elongation and 163 HB, with machinability 90 and a maximum service temperature near 350 °C. Weldability (20) and formability (30) are both poor; 1213 or 1215 are the usual alternatives when even faster cycle times are required. 1211 has a density of 7.87 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 92% of steel grades. It melts at 1,420°C (2,588 °F). 1211 has a yield strength of 470 MPa (68.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 540 MPa (78.3 ksi) — stronger than 57% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
What is 1211 used for?
- Screw machine parts
- small precision components
- fittings
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 90/100, better than 99% of steel grades
- High electrical conductivity — 10.8 % IACS, better than 94% of steel grades
- Conducts heat well — 51 W/m·K (29.5 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 92% of steel grades
- Low embodied carbon — 1.9 kg CO₂/kg, better than 92% of steel grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 10%, worse than 91% of steel grades
- Difficult to weld — 20/100, worse than 84% of steel grades
- Hard to polish — 45/100, worse than 84% of steel grades
1211 properties
Typical room-temperature values for 1211-CD; bars are the position among steel grades.
Physical3
1211 has a density of 7.87 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 92% of steel grades. It melts at 1,420°C (2,588 °F).
Mechanical15
1211 has a yield strength of 470 MPa (68.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 540 MPa (78.3 ksi) — stronger than 57% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).
Thermal6
1211 is rated for continuous service to 350°C (662 °F). It conducts heat at 51 W/m·K (29.5 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 92% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.9 µm/m·K (6.61 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
1211 conducts electricity at 10.8 % IACS, better than 94% of steel grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is not recommended (8/100), worse than 99% of steel grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of 1211 takes about 25 MJ of energy and emits 1.9 kg of CO₂ — less than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability7
1211's machinability is excellent (90/100, better than 99% of steel grades); weldability poor (20/100); formability poor (30/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the steel family
Yield strength against density for every steel grade FabDigit runs. 1211 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with 1211
Is 1211 easy to machine?
Excellent — high speeds and feeds on screw machines, short broken chips, long tool life; sulfides give good finish but avoid very light finishing cuts that smear.
Can 1211 be welded?
Poor — high S and P cause hot cracking and porosity; avoid structural welding, or use low-hydrogen filler with preheat and accept reduced properties.
Can 1211 be formed, bent or molded?
Limited cold formability in the drawn condition; bend on generous radii transverse to the rolling direction or anneal first, since sulfide stringers split on tight bends.
1211 chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Cmax only per SAE J403 | ≤ 0.13 | 0.1 |
| Mn | 0.6 – 0.9 | 0.75 |
| Prephosphorized for chip breaking | 0.07 – 0.12 | 0.09 |
| Sresulfurized — MnS inclusions | 0.1 – 0.15 | 0.12 |
| Fe | balance |
What surface finishes work on 1211?
Not anodizable; protect with zinc or nickel plating, black oxide, phosphate + oil or paint — sulfide inclusions can leave microporosity in plated surfaces.
Surface treatments FabDigit runs on steel parts — pick them in the quote configurator or call them out on the drawing. Each links to its datasheet in the surface-finish library (thickness, specs, call-out, material verdicts).
Organic Coating
Black / Phosphate
Thermal Spray
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Steel 1211 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- G12110
How much does 1211 cost?
1211 is a budget-cost steel ($), cheaper than about 90% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
1211 — frequently asked
What is 1211 used for?
1211 is typically used for screw machine parts, small precision components and fittings. In short: top-machining low-carbon bar; built for automatic screw machines; poor welding and bending.
What is the yield strength of 1211?
1211 has a typical yield strength of 470 MPa (68.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 540 MPa (78.3 ksi) — stronger than 57% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is 1211 easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated excellent (90/100, better than 99% of steel grades). Excellent — high speeds and feeds on screw machines, short broken chips, long tool life; sulfides give good finish but avoid very light finishing cuts that smear.
Can 1211 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (20/100). Poor — high S and P cause hot cracking and porosity; avoid structural welding, or use low-hydrogen filler with preheat and accept reduced properties.
What surface finishes work on 1211?
Not anodizable; protect with zinc or nickel plating, black oxide, phosphate + oil or paint — sulfide inclusions can leave microporosity in plated surfaces.
Can 1211 be formed, bent or molded?
Limited cold formability in the drawn condition; bend on generous radii transverse to the rolling direction or anneal first, since sulfide stringers split on tight bends.
What is the maximum service temperature of 1211?
1211 is rated for continuous use to about 350°C (662 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between 1211-CD and 1211-HR?
CD is the default condition — standard stock condition for automatic-screw-machine work: highest strength, best size tolerance and surface finish. HR: lowest-cost form for larger sections that will be fully machined; softer, more ductile, poorer tolerance and finish than cold drawn. Yield strength is 470 MPa in CD versus 230 MPa in HR.
How much does 1211 cost?
1211 is a budget-cost steel ($), cheaper than about 90% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- SAE J403 — Chemical Compositions of SAE Carbon Steels — SAE International (2014)
- ASTM A29/A29M — Steel Bars, Carbon and Alloy, Hot-Wrought, General Requirements — ASTM (2020)
- ASTM A108 — Steel Bar, Carbon and Alloy, Cold-Finished — ASTM (2018)
- ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels, and High-Performance Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- SAE J1397 — Estimated Mechanical Properties and Machinability of Steel Bars — SAE International (2009)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.